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Ever notice the catcher in a baseball game? He’s the one crouching down, ever watchful. A very important part of the equation, isn’t he? What a position! Pretty defensive, but, when the need arises he can be very offensive as he plays hard for his team. He catches that runner as he rounds third plate and heads toward home at full steam, before he can reach his goal of scoring a point!

Let’s take a closer look. When he enters the field and takes his position at the bottom of home plate, he is present for the first and last events of the game shall we say, the runs coming in and strike outs at the plate. He is properly dressed for the job with hat, face mask, chest protector, leg guards, catcher’s mitt and cleated shoes that dig in to hold his position.

When we think about life, we could compare ourselves to a baseball catcher. No, really, we are given by our “manufacturer” all the equipment we need to be able to handle our “position.” But, what if our equipment becomes compromised? What happens then?

Suppose our hat has been blown off by a particularly strong storm, an emotional event that took us by surprise. We may feel uncovered, vulnerable with our thoughts a bit muddied or dusty from the stray debris that has been deposited on our mind. Is our perception clear? Can our vision actually be affected and distorted because we are wearing a face mask that has became bent and broken during an unforeseen accident that pitched us forward onto some hard ground? Let’s continue looking.

Hurt and abuse may have damaged our chest protector leaving our heart bleeding and torn. The protective cushioning that was originally placed there by the “manufacturer” has become damaged and ineffective.

Constantly tripping up and making mistakes can be the result of leaving our leg guards behind when entering dangerous territory. Because of our muddied thinking, we may have become forgetful and not mindful of what we need to don for our daily walk. And how are we to handle things? Reaching out spontaneously to touch what may be forbidden will leave us burnt, hurt and often disfigured with our mitt soiled and torn.

Lastly, where are we going? Are we wearing our protective foot covering when traversing through life? Abuse and injury, either by someone else, life’s circumstances or our own doing can lead us to a place of confusion and pain. Often touching others with that same harmful behavior.

Even though this is just an analogy, we can feel like that beat up catcher who has has his protective gear destroyed. We know that our loving Father has sent us here to be part of his world, his Kingdom. But, the events of life can surely take us on many different roads, some being very difficult to trek. Jesus told us that in this life we would have trouble. Sometimes I think, “well, thanks Jesus!” But, he also said to be of good cheer because He overcame the world. Sigh of relief. He has already done this! The work is finished!

He is the one who can lead us back to wholeness. Whatever that may look like for each of us. Perhaps a straightened gait or cleared mind, or sharper vision with thoughts that bring joy. Broken hearts can be made whole when they are placed into His hands that His word tells us, have been engraved with our very names.

For sure, this may not be easy, it may be extremely difficult to turn our faces toward His. Hurt and unbelief and lies all seem to be clouding our vision. But he is also there to help us. Just one glance in His direction can turn our perspective in a thousand different ways. His ways are higher than ours He says. Taking that first step in our dirty and worn out shoes will lead us to the path of healing and freedom. He asks us, to “come.” He will restore our “equipment” and help us move on to take our position, bend down, dig in and get the work done. Lastly and most importantly, finish the game well!

This is a speech I saw posted on Facebook this morning. I felt a stirring in my spirit to lay out some of the things I was thinking. The young lady giving the speech just looked so fresh and precious to me. I hope I convey my thoughts in the way they are intended.

This beautiful young woman is, in her words fighting a battle that she is never going to stop fighting. Some key words and phrases she used:
“people just were what they are.” 1. We all find out who/what we are WHEN we discover who God says we are.
she “felt something that she couldn’t explain.” 2.Again, going on feelings. Feelings are often far from the truth. They are real, but they are not truth.
She continues to explain the physical reactions brought on by these feelings. “because, I was born that way.” 3. Our bodies do react in accordance with our feelings. Painful emotions result in pain and sickness in the body.
“how can you be who you are?” 4. She truthfully feels this way she, however, she does not know who God says she is.
She articulated very well how suffering fills up one’s soul. She has been filled with up with suffering. She said she felt “broken and unlovable.”
My heart goes out to this young woman. She has no idea that the “way she is” happened sometime before she was born. Yes, I do believe she was born “that way.” However, that is not how she was created to be. My belief is that something happened between conception and delivery. Something changed the original design by God into an identity lie before she was even born. It happened in the womb. (explaining this is a whole other subject that involves the understanding of word curses and generational sin etc.)
She is right when she says, “words matter.” She has received a false identity and some measure of value from the “community” she has found comfort in. She has been included into a community that is a false “church” and I believe this is because the christian community has had little understanding of the very things the bible teaches. The church only sees the sin and not the wounded and bleeding person in front of their faces who staunchly defends their lifestyle. Often the church sees what the person is doing and condemns them, not realizing that this is a group of people that the enemy had taken for generations and deceived into believing that God makes people gay. He does not. But…how is one to know this when the church often speaks a language of condemnation and hate. I know, not all people do, there are ministries to the gay community out there, however, they are few and far between.
It breaks my heart that this young woman says at the end of her so very eloquent speech that she will “never stop fighting.” One cannot live in fight mode forever, someday she will grow too weary to continue the fight.
I pray she receives the truth of who God says she is and is able to go on using all her obvious gifts and talents and move into a place of peace with Him instead of a continuous battle she is never going to win. It is time for the church to understand the very people they are speaking out against are the very ones the enemy had hidden behind a veil of misunderstanding, lies and deceit. They are the ones being stolen from the body of Christ, taken by the enemy and placed on the sidelines, when they were originally and lovingly created to be part of the church triumphant! My prayer is that the Lord would send someone to gently take her hand and lead her to the One who loves her and grieves for her and has poured out his blood for her survival. She is precious in His sight!

Interestingly enough, this blog idea came to me in the midst of a very trying time. I am under stress and my walk as a follower of Jesus has been questioned. However, the Holy Spirit is so wise. During a drive running some errands He began to speak to me about what the christian walk really looks like.
He showed me a picture of two toolboxes. Now, I don’t know if this analogy is one that has been spoken of before, but it surely speaks to me! I saw a brand new shiny toolbox. It was open and silver lined in bright clean metal. And, it was empty. Then I saw another toolbox. It too was open. It was however, filled with lots of rusty,dirty, greasy tools. Nothing a good mechanic or fix it man would ever use.

Then I got it! The new toolbox is a gift for us. When we come to Christ, He makes us all shiny and new. The bible says: New American Standard Bible
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

So, here I saw that it is as if we are given a new tool box with which to “work out our salvation.” (not work for salvation, when we come to Jesus sincerely, we are saved)King James Bible
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

As we travel into our relationship with the Lord, he teaches us how to walk in it. This may be through bible study and reading, prayer and receiving teaching from authentic pastors and teachers of the word. As we come upon these truths and they become part of us, we then begin the process of renewing our mind. Old things are thrown out and new things take up residence within our mind.

New King James Version:And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable…

Those old truths and mindsets are then replaced with new ones. Some of these truths deal with honesty, how to speak to others, behaviors, habits, forgiveness, repentance, love, trusting God, giving, and the list goes on. As we encounter a new truth, we have the opportunity to remove the old lie from our mind and replace it with the new truth that comes from God.

Those old thoughts come from our experiences before we chose to walk with Jesus. Those lies which we only think are truths are changed and replaced. Those lies may be thoughts about ourselves like, I am stupid, I am lost, I can’t do anything right, they are better than me, I am a failure etc. Some others lead us to behave inappropriately. We may lie, cheat, speak harshly to others, be sarcastic, break laws, hurt other people etc.

When we understand from the Holy Spirit’s teaching and leading that those things we believed before were just filling our old toolbox with dirty, rusty tools, that we would take out each time we were hurt or triggered by an event. We would use them and then replace them with the remnants of the wounds whether we used them on someone else to manipulate them or to hurt them in order to feel better, or unfortunately, we would even us them on ourselves. Our own flesh and blood would be left to rot and dry on those tools as they were replaced back in that old toolbox.

However as we come further and further to the truth of who God is and who He says we are we find that those ugly old nasty, and rusty tools begin to show up in our new toolbox, shiny and clean. They turn into instruments of healing and comfort. Maybe even glowing with some of the glory of God. As we take these new tools out and use them (and yes, if they are not used, they may get rusty again) we will then learn how to walk in the assignment that was given to us originally by our Father, before the foundations of the earth.

The Bible says in Jeremiah 29:11 that God has thoughts and plans for us. Plans for our welfare and peace and not for evil.

So, as we continually empty out that old messy toolbox that represents our life before our relationship with Jesus, we will be following the instructions of the Lord himself by allowing Him to free us and heal us from hurts and experiences that left us wounded and injured, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Remember it says that we are three part beings. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 points this out. God provides us healing in all three parts of our being.

Most of us still have two toolboxes, however as we empty out the former one it will become smaller and smaller and the new shiny, clean one will become bigger and bigger.

Do you have two toolboxes? Perhaps you received your new one and it is still empty or maybe just has a few tools inside. Or maybe you just have the old one still lying around within easy reach. When Jesus said step into the yoke with me, He meant it. His burden is easy and light. Oh, we still have to pick up that toolbox and carry it around, we don’t get off that easy, but wow, it sure is light for how big it is and those tools are light too! King James Bible
Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

I am still exchanging those rusty, dirty tools for my new ones, this process will go on as long as I live. But, with the exchange comes more and more freedom to be who He called me to be. Jesus is kind, he gives us all that choice.

Like this:

This morning I woke up dreaming. In my dream I saw in the clear blue skies over me clouds, many clouds, and they were beautiful! Remember when you were a kid and you would lay in the sweet green summer grass while the sunshine warmed your face making every muscle in your body relax? The skies were a brilliant blue with white puffy clouds overhead. In my dream there were many many white puffy clouds overhead, but they were not in the usual shapes of clouds, you know, the kind that look like animals or objects when you look at them with your imagination. These clouds were distinct and I knew exactly what they depicting.

The clouds in my dream were in the shape of tanks, planes, jets and ships. Military equipment that was strong, large and impressive! Positioned in the sky, row after row of them. All lined up in perfect military formation. However, as I was remembering how they looked in the dream, I had a sadness come over me along with a great sense of patriotic emotion. These wonderful majestic pieces of military equipment represented the past. Having long ago surpassed the glory of their missions. Now, tethered in the sky, they were a beautiful shadow of what once was. Sadly, I realized, that what I was seeing was the glory of the United States of America standing tall and proud in the fast fading form of clouds that come and go with the flow of weather.

These remnants of a brilliant, strong and hardy America were reminders that the heyday of this country with its military strength is just about gone. This country that boasted the brightest and the best was now losing its strength and posture in the eyes of the world. Fading into the memories of countless veterans and their families and those who faithfully watched as the USA went forth helping, enabling and supporting other countries when they needed it most.

Just as the picture below shows one of our wounded warriors, dependant on a chair for his mobility, we too have been injured and wounded as a country. We are not the people we once were. This is not the America that once was. Just as the generations after Moses lost sight of the wonderful miracles that God had done for them in Egypt and in the desert, it is with a heavy heart that I ponder what will happen to the generations following mine as they no longer hear the stories of the people and their battles that kept us a free nation.

I am part of the baby boomer generation, now welcoming grandchildren into our families and linage. Will these children currently being born have even a hint of the patriotic spark that we were raised with? Will they sing the great songs we learned by heart? God Bless America, You’re A Grand Ole Flag, or even America the Beautiful. I wonder how long we will be opening sporting events with our National Anthem. Will the generations following us even know who Francis Scott Key was and why he penned such unusual lyrics? I once had an elderly teacher make sure we knew the lyrics of the last verse:

O, thus be it ever when freemen shall stand,Between their lov’d homes and the war’s desolation;Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the heav’n-rescued landPraise the Pow’r that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!Then conquer we must, when our cause is just,And this be our motto: “In God is our trust”And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall waveO’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Those fading remnants of our military strength that I saw in my dream not only reminded me that there is a crisis here politically, but also, and much more importantly, this country is in a spiritual crisis like none we’ve ever seen before. Our faithful nation has become one that is tarnished and torn. While there is still a remnant, yes, strong and bold who declare daily the faith of God through both prayer and behavior, there is a sinister and malevolent spirit that has overshadowed such a large portion of our “united” states. Lawlessness and murder are rampant, what was once evil is now called good. The bible tells us that this will be happening in the last days. Anyone with eyes and ears can realize that it is now true. We are there now!

The God that helped bring this nation to its feet is still the God he always was. As we chopped away at the goodness that brought us our strength with decisions such as removing prayer from school and allowing sins like abortion and immoral sexual behaviors to override our souls we have stayed the protective hand of God that once held us so securely.

As individuals, we have the power to take back what we have lost. It will only be through repentance that we can regain some sense of unity in this nation. As those figments I saw in my dream of our past strength fade away, my prayer is that we will be drawn to our knees and repent for the sins of the nation and once again invite the God of the universe back to us with contrite hearts.

Will we ever recover that which has been lost? I doubt it. However, with faith I speak the powerful lovingkindness of God over my family, friends and loved ones and yes even those who persecute me. Will we be reduced to a people who has to deal with lawlessness and disaster? Perhaps, but as Joshua said: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. Joshua 24:15

In the book of James, we read this: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. James 4:7-10

Wow, does this sound like the sweet words of the gentle savior? Sometimes Jesus comforts us with words of loving kindness and sometimes like a good parent he speaks to us a bit more sternly with words of correction. However, these words although they may sound harsh, will ultimately take us to a place of personal freedom! We don’t always like to be corrected or instructed to do something. We don’t always see things the way God sees them. He is a God of omniscience, he knows everything all at once. He knows the past, present and future. He knows what we need for today and also the days to come. Matthew 3:2 tells us that Jesus wants us to repent because the Kingdom of God is coming. Well, what does that mean? He wants us to know that there will be an end to this world. How will he find us when he returns with that angelic shout at the last trumpet? Will he find us going about his business or our own business? This is a stern word for us all, but we do not want to be tricked into believing that we will go be with him simply because we have been “good.” That is not what he said, he said to repent. Confess your sins.

Let’s take to heart what the bible says, what the Lord of heaven AND earth is saying to us, to those who he says, have ears to hear. When we take the words in James and really apply them, we will see that it is the Holy Spirit who convicts us of those things in our lives that do not line up to the word of God. When we get serious and really mourn the behaviours and attitudes that need to be rooted out of our lives, it is then that we will receive the freedom we need. By leaving these things in humble repentance at the foot of the cross we enable God’s hand that was stayed, to once again release blessings unto us.

He really is a loving God who wants His best to flow into us. He tells us how that can happen. Obedience is paramount. Obedience to his word brings that freedom and that truth, along with so many other wonderful truths will bring us what we need. He longs for us to come to him and release these things that hinder us. Pride and false confidence brought by the enemy will keep us from repentance. But, really it is so simple. The rest of James chapter 4 will show us what to do. It is our decision if we will do it or not. God won’t force us to repent, but it delights him when we choose to be obedient, and oh how he smiles when we are finally released from bondage by doing so. In order to live that abundant life he tells us about in John 10:10, this must be done, for by repenting we keep the “thief” from stealing from us.

Lately, I have been listening to some teachings about God, the bible and learning some very basic, simple truths. Now, don’t get me wrong. I have been walking with the Lord since 1984 and have been a student of the bible for a long time. However, sometimes, we get so bogged down in all kinds of study that we kind of forget the simplicity of the gospel, the “good news.”

In the book of Ephesians, we find the true heart of God. Paul the apostle, wrote the book of Ephesians, or the letters to the Ephesians, because he was in the city of Ephesus, Turkey. He sure got around didn’t he? In that ancient city the folks worshiped the idol Diana. She actually was not a god. There was a strong territorial demonic presence on that city at the time and an ancient principality (fallen angel) had a stranglehold on the people by counterfeiting God as a deity that tries to mimic the true nurturing and loving God. Hence, “Diana” is presented to the people. Paul shows up and has the task of undoing years of mindsets and ancient witchcraft and rituals. The people were so ingrained in the false teaching of this little g god that Paul had to go back to the basic truth of the gospel.

The first chapter of Ephesians gives us great insight. He reminds us that all blessings come from God and that they are available to us through the work of Jesus. He also lets the people who are riddled with false teachings which required them to performrituals in order to receive what they needed from their god, to know that they are loved just because they exist.

So, did you know that God has chosen you? He has set you apart for a specific purpose? That he not only loves you but He really likes you as well? Yep! Ephesians 1:4. God created us for His pleasure, Ephesians 1:5. He wants us and wants to be near us. One author says it like this: He wants our little faces near His face. Thom Gardner: Healing the Wounded Heart.

So think about this, we sit at home and wonder where in the world God is. We stress ourselves out by thinking that we have to do everything under the sun to make him love us. We take precious time and fret about things that have already been settled by the work of Jesus. Jesus did all that needed to be done when he took our punishment for us. We are to live and love in the freedom that has been given to us through what Jesus chose to do. One teacher says it this way: He took the bullet for us! Michael Smith at http://www.hardcorechristianity.com

So, relax, He’s got this! Our only job is to step into the work that has already been done! Now, the only thing required from us is to believe that and live according to what He says. You’ll find all that you need to be and do in the New Testament. Jesus is all about verbs. You know, he gives us simple instructions about how to live a life of freedom. Our only job is to find out what these are and do them. How simple is that? Stop fretting, stop worrying, stop going to “what if land.” God has you.

How is God showing you that He has you in the palm of His hand as the bible says in Isaiah 49:16.

You may contact us at lifestationexpress@gmail.com for more information about how to step into the presence of the one who Created you. Also our Facebook page at:https://www.facebook.com/AngelCounseling

When I read the account of the crossing of the red sea I stand amazed at the awesome God we serve. I marvel at what happens afterward in the now free from slavery crowd of people who gaze upon their current situation with dissatisfaction. Even after experiencing first hand what the mighty power of God had done, the Israelites still found time to gripe and complain when their conditions got a bit more challenging. After walking across on dry land as the water of the great Red Sea stood at attention on either side of them during their God-made exodus and escaping the terrifying army that Pharaoh had pounding down upon them with horses, soldiers and chariots, the memory of what they thought were “better days” came back to taunt them. In Exodus 16:3 we read, “If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”

So why in the world would death or life as a slave be so enticing? The answer, the enemy and his lies. When we come out of a victory or a triumph we stand in that for a while marveling at the Lord and how much he loves us and how he provided a way out for us. Eventually, life gets in the way and normal and mundane days become less exciting and we lose that emotional high we had just after winning that last battle. We slip into a place where we forget how important it is to seek and rely upon God for the things we need. We get “ordinary” again and life gets boring. We notice how big our needs become and we forget how big our God is. We get to a place of complacency and that is the very space the devil is looking for. That space where we forget to pray or thank God for what we need daily. We forget, ‘give us this day, our daily bread.’ We forget that we can do nothing without Him. And then our mind becomes sluggish and we go down the slope of whining about what we don’t have instead of remembering what the Lord has done for us. Then, in they slither. Those thoughts, the ones that take us back, back to where we used to be. How life was when WE were in charge, before we placed ourselves under God’s authority and protection. Like little snakes they come. Worming their way into our minds and once again we find ourselves in that place of want and need. That place that we previously escaped.

Oh how we wish we would have taken those thoughts captive, as it says in 2 Corinthians:5 and not have traveled down this road. But take heart! This is not the end. We serve a forgiving God and when we arrive at this place of woe, He is still there to forgive us and lead us back to victory! And rest assured, as we practice this “taking thoughts captive” and continue to rest and rely on Him and His word, we will surely walk in that victorious life that we crave so much and the life that God has provided for us through the cross. We just need to remember that Jesus already did the work http://wp.me/p37EgM-a and that all we need do is step into obedience to his word and allow Him to lead us.

Running back to the yuck is part of the journey. As we progress through and press toward the mark as Paul says, we will become less likely to go back there. We will be able to stop and regroup our thoughts and keep our mind on Him and His word in order to continue on the path that He has laid out before us. Phil. 3:14.

Thank you Lord that you have made a way for us. We come to you with great anticipation and excitement as you lead us toward that goal of living life victoriously! Amen